Teleology & evolution: Stephen Talbott's take (Introduction)

by dhw, Wednesday, June 29, 2016, 13:24 (2870 days ago) @ David Turell

dhw; You don't see the complexities involved in providing the first cells with a computer programme to create every single innovation and natural wonder in the 3.8-billion- year history of life on Earth so far (possibly even with multiple choices to select from)... - DAVID: You are creating more complexities for the origin of life by leaving out the alternate concept of dabbling. That is why I offer both. - I usually remember to put it in (as you will see in the other posts), but the choice between God preprogramming and personally dabbling the countless millions of innovations and wonders (all for the sake of humans) only adds to the complexities which you apparently cannot see! - dhw: ...and to equip bacteria with the solution to every single problem - all this to be passed down through millions of generations and organisms, surviving countless environmental changes that may or may not have been planned as well? - DAVID: Again, not remembering: bacteria only have a few reactions to exhibit. Approach food, avoid noxious material, quorum sense, horizontally transfer DNA. Not many reactions, are there? Not overly complex. And besides the very first E. coli still exists, because all they do to reproduce is split in two. Where is the complexity? - What you have quoted was all one sentence: all the innovations and natural wonders and solutions for bacteria to be passed down through millions of generations etc. You have ignored the latter complexity. - However, I am not saying bacteria lead complex lives. The point is that they seem able to adapt themselves to virtually any environment and any threat (i.e. to solve all kinds of problems). As I've mentioned a couple of times before, I find it somewhat difficult to believe that (let alone understand why) your God either preprogrammed them to resist antibiotics, for instance, or went rushing round the world teaching them what to do in order to counter the threat. These are the complexities you say you cannot see.